The Labor enquirer., 1887-03-12
IN RUNNING ORDER.

The Philadelphia Palace In Running |
Order-what Is Thought
oft.
Philadelphia Press, March s.
The magnifcence of tie knights Of
Labor's new headquarters is exciting
wide comment among the members of
the great organization all over the coun-
try. Delegations from distant cities who
have visited the new establishment ex-
press their astonishment at its grandeur
and elegance. Most of the knights in
Philadelphia are surprised at the char
acter OF the place surprised that an or
ganization Of workingmen, entertaining
principles of the plainest and most prac-
tical sort imaginable, should give counte-
Dauce to luxury and extrav gance bv
fitting up its central Office on the style
of the N)rth Broad street establish
ment. The building, with its brown.
stone front, its elegant furnishings,
equipments and conveniences, has al
ready been described in detail by the
Press. How its floors are covered with
sumptuous rugs and Wilton and Brus-
sells carpets, how its stairways are built
with, heavy wo den balusters, Its halls
lighted from windows of stained glass,
its rooms adorned with plush furniture,
frescoed walls, inlaid marble mantles.
large plate mirrors and fine lace cur
tains. All these points have been noted,
and humble Knights of Labor have
gazed upon them with wonder aud de
light.
This week delegation from Newark,
New Jersey. consisting of Messrs. Freil
and O'Connor. representing the Essex
Trades Assembly, came to this city to
have an interview with General Master
Workman Powderly for the purpose ii
urging him to interpose his authority
and stop the conflict between the
knights of Labor and the International
Cigar.makers union. They did not see
Mr. Powderly, as he was not In the city,
but when they went away they carried
with th, m great news for their friends
about the, wonders they bad seen at the
new headquarters. They had made an
inspection of the interior. and, instead
of finding themselves in plain business
Office, they were >ushered into magnifi
Gently furnished brown stone house,
where, sss one of them expressed i they
"waded up to their Knees il velvet car
pets" \
The report was unique and startling
TO their comrades. "Why, everything
about the place was simply Immense"
said they. Dozens and dozens Of
clerks, mostly women, were sitting at
polished desks, and they didn't seem to
have anything else to dc than to look
around them. Electric bells, fine car
pets and rugs, and mirrors and chandeE,
iers and all the rest of it compelled US
to believe that we were IN Vanderbilt's
mansion"
A Philadelphia knight stated his
views in this way: II think the board
made big mistake in busing that fine
house on North Broad street for $4,000.
1t may be all very well for people to say
that big order like ours should have
general offices fitted up in style that
will enforce respect from us from the
outside world, but that isn't the proper
way to liok at it. Toe order is unQues.'
tionably in a bad financial condition
and more economy should have been
used in making the purchase. All those
luxurious furnishings benefit merely the
general officers, and it is selfish in them
TO look out only for their own eass and
comfort while thousands of our men.
bers In different pIrts Of the Country are
suffering from want. Don't it strike you
as inconsistent on the part of the Gene.
raj Board that only few weeks ago
they issued secret circular requiring a
special assessment of % cents from each
member of the organization, and have
just squandered $4,000 in fine house ?
If you 70 into the Offices of any Of the
wealthiest banking houses or business
firms in this city you won't 6nd such
elegant surroundings as you will see in
the headquarters of the Knights of
Labor. Go into the general offices of
the Pennsylvania railroad, for instance,
and everything there YOU will lind
plain, practical and business like. But
uD at the North Broad street place you
tramp on thick velvet carpets. you see
plate mirrors ana statues on every hand,
and you sit on soft sofas aud cushioned
armchairs all this is wrung from the
hard-earned wages of the laDoring men,
and Il isn't right"
Backing Down.
New YORK, Mar:h As. Stephens